Monday, May 18, 2009

AFL Power List: Round 8 Power List - Or the Top 8 is almost set.

Two weeks ago I wrote that the Crows, Brisbane and Sydney are fighting for the final spot in the finals. After this week we can remove the Crows from that list. I also said Collingwood would make the finals. Now I’m not so sure.

Top 2 – Cats and Saints (obviously). Certs for the finals – Bulldogs, Carlton, Port, and Hawthorn. So let’s put the Pies in with Brisbane and Sydney in the fight for the last two spots. The rest are playing for a glimmer of hope and for pride. Richmond and the Demons of course, should be playing for priority picks.

Rank

LW

Team

Record

Comment

1

1 ↔

Geelong

8-0

Hardly even raised a sweat.

2

2↔

St Kilda

8-0

Big first quarter, never troubled after that.

3

6↑

Carlton

4-4

A huge win for the Blues. And now they face a demoralised Crows outfit.

4

3↓

Bulldogs

5-3

They won, but not a real impressive performance when you next have to face the Cats.

5

4↓

Port Adelaide

6-3

They got the 4 points, but not how they would have liked.

6

5↓

Hawthorn

4-4

The Hawks now play Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane. That month against the capitals will tell us whether they’re top 4 or just top 8.

7

7↔

Brisbane

5-3

When they got going, they really got going, but now they face the big test of the Saints.

8

8↔

Collingwood

3-5

Too many injuries, not enough class. This week in Perth is suddenly a must win.

9

10↑

Sydney

4-4

The Swans held on in a tight one over the Eagles. Big game against Port this week to get above 50%.

10

9↑

Essendon

4-4

A valiant effort, but they were out of their depth. The next 4 weeks are Tigers, Geelong, Adelaide and Melbourne. If the win 3 they will still be a big show for the finals.

11

12↑

Fremantle

3-5

Freo weren’t bad, just too wasteful and they lost it in the 2nd quarter when the Hawks kicked 6 in a row. Now they travel to Melbourne to play the Roos.

12

11↓

Adelaide

3-5

When they got going, they didn’t really get going. Next 4 weeks – Carlton, Hawks, Essendon, Roos. Can only afford to drop one.

13

14↑

West Coast

3-5

West Coast just couldn’t do enough to get ahead and stay there against the Swans. Now they meet the Pies at Subiaco in a must win for both sides.

14

13↓

North Melbourne

3-5

Hardly gave a yelp. Lose to Freo this week and the season is over.

15

15↔

Richmond

1-7

Geez that hurts – 16 points up mid way through the last quarter should be enough. But sides like the Tigers get into a habit of losing from such positions.

16

16↔

Melbourne

1-7

A well played loss. Not the kind of thing you really are after though.